"Sometimes a franchise just has a big, black mark over it and no amount of wishful thinking can turn the tide..."-Jaap Still

"Brilliant use of an instructional picture book."-Kyle in Newport News

"Does Met$tra have a gambling problem?"-Erik Love

"Hasta la vista baby. I throw up the white flag."-Joe

"I'm still a fan, but enough is enough."-Meet the Mets

"I watch the grass grow - it's more exciting."-David

"Freaking Chipper Jones. I HATE Freaking Chipper Jones."-Dave Murray

"Good God man, what have you done??!! You've released the genie from the bottle. I see the showers and toilets backing up at Shea, emergency landings at LGA, unusual tides in Flushing Bay, and when they break ground for the new stadium the construction gang will unearth and disturb some ancient Indian burial ground for unlucky and cursed members of the Iroquois nation...Blaspheme no more Metstradamus! You are tempting the fates!"-The Metmaster

Friday, June 23, 2006

Something amazing is going to happen with the Mets this weekend in Toronto.

Now I know what you're going to say: "Metstradamus, amazing things happen every day with this team. It's a semi-regular occurrence." And you're right.

But this is different. This isn't the general last inning comeback feeling I'm getting, or the sweep of the Blue Jays feeling I'm getting. This is different. I think that something of enormous proportions is brewing.

It's easy to say no-hitter...and Tom Glavine goes tonight in the first game against a Blue Jay team that will be heading into Toronto late tonight. It could be a no-hitter. But it could also be something else. It could be Carlos Delgado hitting a two out two strike salami in the ninth off of his former team. Heck, it could be Carlos Delgado going deep three or four times in a single game. It could be a ten RBI performance by somebody. It could be Julio Franco becoming the oldest ever player to...start a bench clearing brawl? It could be anything. But it's going to be significant.

But why this weekend? Why in Toronto?

Simple, because I'm not going to be there.

It's not like I've been at any other game this season, but if things had broken right (a lot of things), this was the series I would have traveled to see. I haven't been to Toronto since 1998, and absolutely loved the city when I was there and have been looking for an excuse to go back ever since. (I may have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: the hot dogs sold by the street vendors in Toronto are the absolute best hot dogs that I have ever eaten...and if any of you are going up there, do yourself a favor and chow one down). One thing I didn't do back in 1998 was see a baseball game at SkyDome, but I had a legitimate reason: it was November. And this time out would have been perfect. The Mets are in town, and there's even a promotion between the Saturday and Sunday game where fans can sleep in SkyDome, and have the Blue Jays serve you breakfast. Sweet!

If I could have, I would have. But I can't. And that means that I'm going to miss something significant. I can feel it.

It hit me a little bit watching the game today...and seeing the construction happening beyond the outfield wall, getting ready for the ceremonial groundbreaking for "Shea II, Brute". I'm not prepared to know how to feel about this.

I know what you are feeling...you are feeling that the Mets take 2 out of 3 in Toronto....and they do not have to face A.J. Burnett (he looked nasty against the Bravos last night, didn't he?)

David Wright is starting to remind me of a Mike Schmidt type third baseman except Wright has more speed and he can hit for average...Boy, I am so glad that the last regime DID NOT trade him for Joe Randa....

Side note...

I don't have a problem with Thornton winning the Hart Trophy, but Jagr was the driving force and the difference between the Rangers being picked to finish last overall to making the playoffs...and he also did not have Johnathan Cheechoo riding shotgun, either....and speaking about being picked to finish last in the league...I know that Lindy Ruff did a great job and so did Peter Laviolette, but c'mon folks...Renney put in a system that they followed to the playoffs...that is what a coach of the year does....he makes a difference...

--and can us mets fans stop comparing arod/jeter to wright/reyes. they are home grown and i will take them over anyone but lets not start this nonsense i hear it constantly on wfan ......is it too late to get valentin into the all star game at second?

I did hear that. My crack staff tells me that the Myers' had an argument over Ryan Howard's lack of production in the clutch.

Ian,

I can't believe I typed that. My brain was specifically thinking "top", but somehow typed "bottom". But then again with the Mets doing so well on the road, maybe the Jays will give the Mets last licks. Who knows?

Renney had a great year leading the Rangers but the collapse down the stretch cost them dearly in the playoffs. They lost games they never should have lost and handed the Devils the division. No way for coach of the year but a good job overall.

I can understand the fatigue about hearing the Jeter/A-Rod - Reyes/Wright comparisons. Just remember, Jeter is home grown as well and so were a lot of the players from that championship run.